True devotion often requires a person to weigh the value of the spiritual against the material. A deep, uncompromising love for God's commandments naturally elevates spiritual goals far above the greatest physical achievements. In this light, divine law is cherished much more than the finest, most choice gold available [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The underlying reason for this intense love can be understood as a direct response to a corrupt society. Watching the wicked abandon moral boundaries to obsessively pursue money and wealth, a faithful person actively chooses the exact opposite path. He dedicates himself entirely to the commandments, valuing them more than the riches others try so desperately to accumulate [רד״ק]. Beyond a simple reaction to society, this choice is driven by the knowledge of future accountability. When the time for divine justice arrives, material wealth will be completely useless. No amount of gold can save a person from heavenly judgment or bring true justice upon wrongdoers. Real security and ultimate salvation are found exclusively in God's commandments [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, מאירי].
This profound preference for the spiritual also stems from the mindset of a dedicated servant. A servant fundamentally owns no material property; whatever he acquires automatically belongs to his master. Because of this reality, he has no logical reason to seek out gold or financial success. The only lasting possession he can truly wish for is a life spent fulfilling God's commandments [אלשיך]. Operating from this humble position, he does not ask God for material rewards, but asks only for the clarity to understand His laws [אבן עזרא].
Rather than seeing this love purely as a reaction to the world or a conclusion about life, another perspective views it as the groundwork for a personal plea. The devotion to the commandments over earthly fortune becomes the very reason to seek divine guidance. Because he loves God's laws more than any wealth, he asks that God teach him exactly how to properly carry out His will [רש״י].